Job Discussion Forums

mdickun83 · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 41

I am looking for some info from people "in the know" about what you feel the best situation for me would be.

I am 27, a college graduate and from the US. I owe 50K in school debt and pay about 450/ month in student loans; my job NEEDS to be able to cover that and cost of living.

I also want to see the world and I hope to eventually become a teacher back here in the good ole' US of A (someday...). So teaching abroad seems like a great fit.

What I'm looking for right now is a situation where I could actually save some money/ crush my school debt. I also really love the idea of teaching in Taiwan. I've read that it's a great place to teach and the weather is great and the people are wonderful.

Questions I have:
I was considering getting a certification from the Oxford Seminar but I've heard that isn't great. Is it worth it? Should I get a different cert? I live in San Diego so CELTA seems to be out of the question

I've looked a little into the Hess School because they train you there but I've heard some horror stories. Any info on that would be great?

Are there any schools/ programs in Taiwan that will provide training for you?

How much money would I need to bring over with me, bare minimum (I don't make very much as it is)? Also, do schools typically pay room and board?

Realistically, if I don't live like a Roman Emperor, nor a Monk, how much could I save/ debt could I kill over one year? How much over two?

Thanks in advance for any help. It's a big decision and ALL input is greatly appreciated. The biggest question is this though:

Is Taiwan the best place for someone in my situation? I've heard Korea is a little better because less start up money is needed and you can start saving money a little sooner. Taiwan appeals a little more because of the weather and the culture but I have to know that I can save roughly as much as in Korea.

Is there anyone on here who's taught in both or can point me in the direction of someone who has?

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

I will just make one comment. If one earns as much money in Taiwan as he/she would in Korean in terms of USD, then he/she could save as much and live nicely here. That is if you can make up to 64,000 NT a month, which is comparable to the 2.3 million Korean Won; even though most jobs in Korea include rent free apartments. The cost of living is higher in South Korea, but you could still easily save 1000 USD a month. It is fairly expensive to heat an apartment in Korea during the winter. Having said that though, if you come here without a job that offers a rent free apartment, then you may end up spending a lot of money on start up costs without any guarantee of returns on your investment, since there is no guarantee that you will find a job that offers the amount of hours you�ll need. Anything is possible, though. Good luck.

JZer · Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh

Don't forget that you will have to pay 20 percent in tax for six months in Taiwan. So if you earn 60,000NT you will be down to 48,000. You will get the money back but it might making paying for loan a little difficult.

creztor · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 476

Worth noting that you also don't get it back until about 6 to 7 months later in the following year. If you want to bank, hit Korea.

mdickun83 · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 41

Cool. Thanks everyone for the help.

Can anyone answer any of the other questions I had as well? Any info is deeply appreciated.

Hightop · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 15

In Taiwan you will not save as much as in Korea, you will be lucky to save half as much. On the flip side life in Taiwan is more than 200% better than life in Korea.

When you arrive you should have more than 3k usd to be comfortable. (It might take you a while to find work, maybe you will need to do a visa run, you will need to put deposits on accommodation etc etc.) In a year if you saved 25,000 NTD a month you would come out of the year with, less than $10,000 usd.

Dr_Zoidberg

zipper · Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 237

I know a South African who makes 65000 NT per mouth minus the .20, approximately 8000 NT for food and 5000 for a studio where electric and water are included. He stated that he saves about 35,000 NT a month and he still has extra for gas expenses and for a few beers. Yep, so it is easily possible to save that much from the get go. He bought a 50 CC scooter for 8000 NT when he arrived in Changhua County in April. So saving 1000 US dollars is doable. That's twelve thousand a year.

In SK, I saved about thirteen thousand USD a year, and I lived under a tight budget. It is not that easy to save more than that as someone suggested, because the cost of living is much higher than here. The average monthly EFL pay in SK is 2.3 million won, which is about 1,990 USD. So if you make the average EFL wage in SK of 2.3 million Won, then it is highly unlikely that you will save more than 15,000 a year. Definitely bring more than 2,000 USD to any country you go to if you can; especially if you need to do a visa run, but you shouldn't have to if you have the 60 day extendable visa for Taiwan.